Monika Gullerova
RNA dependent DNA damage response
Genetic information stored in DNA is continuously exposed to endogenous or exogenous damaging factors. Efficient DNA damage repair is a fundamental process for every living organism. The accumulation of DNA damage affects cellular viability and leads to a variety of diseases, particularly cancer.



Therefore, understanding of the molecular mechanisms necessary for DNA damage repair is of great importance. A myriad of repair factors target double-strand breaks (DSBs) by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR) pathways (1, 2). However, the relevance of RNA for the DNA damage response (DDR) is currently not understood and the impact of transcription on genome stability and the role of RNA binding factors as well as function of small RNA (DDRNA) remain enigmatic. Our proposed research aims to elucidate molecular mechanism of RNA dependent DDR. Our results might pave a new way for design of RNA based cancer therapies as well as discovery of new biomarkers.
Relevant Publications
PLOS Genetics 14 (2): e1007151
J Cell Biol 216 (8): 2373-2389